Cybernetics Library Partnership Proposal

Just wanted to check in, anyone have thoughts/comments/ideas/concerns on this? Any questions about the ideas, general or specific?

I'd like to move towards something we can make a decision on; feedback would be very helpful before putting that out.

Shout out to @anuraggupta for comments and positive feedback! Anu suggested that, re: potential move to the third floor, that we work with @Jerone (and @michellj1), and we're starting to work on that front.

Thanks all!

Q: Do the Prime Produce members share a collective interest in the Cybernetics Library’s presence in the Co-op, and to allow it to remain and grow through sustained initiatives and programs?
A: For the 6 month period proposed - yes. I would like to reevaluate in month 5 to determine if we will extend the relationship in a way that is mutually beneficial to PPAC and the cybernetics library.

A: What expectations do Prime Produce members have of the Library and its staff?
Q: That the library is being used. If PPAC functions as storage, I am not supportive of the library's continued presence. If there are programs, gatherings, activities, and invitations actively bringing users and encouragers of the library to PPAC, then I am happy to dedicate the space to supporting the library.

Q: In what ways can the Library serve as a productive force at Prime Produce and serve as a resource to its members?
A: I would like for PPAC to cultivate spaces that cultivate relationships. This means that we actively make use of our spaces and together navigate the coordination and negotiation of space that active-use requires. I see the library as a cultural activation, not just a collection of cultural artifacts. I do not want it to be a nice to look at. I want it to be a nice to interact with. This is a request I have of all projects and member initiatives. We have this space. Let's make use of it. I wholeheartedly support the library's potential to do this.

Q: What would an ideal relationship between the Library and Prime Produce be for members of the Guild?
A: Primarily: Members should see the library being used by guests of the library. Hopefully: The library should invite members to use it for their purposes wherever there is overlap.

Q: What would the proposed time frame be for a potential move of the Library to the third floor?
A: ASAP. If this happens, I would dedicate the entire large room of the third floor to the library and move whatever furniture out that is blocking this from happening. My take :)

Q: How would this impact other activities at the Guild?
A: I would like to have this problem: library use forces other activities at the guild to pay more attention to the relationships being catalyzed at PPAC and less to the artifacts (books) that allow these relationships to take place in the first place. We have made space for the materials that will seed the relationships between people who are interested in what the library represents as a series of invitations to learn, interact, engage, develop, grow.

Q: How could the space be effectively shared between projects?
A: I would dedicate the 3rd FL to the library. When pre-pro bono comes back this coming summer, I would ask them to use the ground floor. Other activities would be assigned to the classroom / meditation room and the negotiating of schedules that will inevitably occur to use that space.

@dahecht see above

PROPOSED TIME FRAME. 6 month-1 year visitation of Cybernetics library with option to renew.

LOCATION. Keep it in the 2nd floor meditation classroom which is a much more communal space than the 3rd floor space. I say this because it is available to rent for events and has foot traffic coming through it.

If the library moves to the 3rd floor, I believe that it will get less use, be more storage like and feel more like an individual isolated research space. It's for this reason that I'm asking why it should move and suggesting that it stay. I feel this way especially because one of our main objectives is to host and build community together. Making the library accessible and welcoming is another way to connect with people and organizations.

If the issue is a clear space, I propose that we build a uniform floor-to-ceiling bookcase to house the books with a sliding ladder to allow access to books on the higher shelves.

If a clear wall is necessary, let's create a moveable wall that could even be VM activated to provide a visually clear surface/facilitation surface. The wall could be used in either the meditation classroom or in the hallway space, or collaboratory depending on what is happening in the meditation classroom.

SHARE SPACE. Not just between projects, but also between people: members, residents, potential members and guests. Make the entire wall a floor-to-ceiling library. One wall in the meditation classroom. All other walls would be clean and clear.

The Cybernetics Library would effectively become a visiting collection of the Prime Produce Library. Prime Produce Library = one wall in the meditation classroom. A section for Cybernetics and a section for other books that Prime Produce wants to share in the space think Be More books, Seeds to Soil books, art books, etc.

EXAMPLE OF SHARED COMMUNITY. After the AI event, David hosted 4+ people from a tech start up in the meditation classroom. He used the books as a way to facilitate and engage the conversation engaging potential members/guests. From my experience, the Cybernetics team is open to collaboration and interested in knowledge sharing. Perhaps the Cybernetics Library could host a get together with members one evening so that we can meet one another.

In general, even with the library in the space, people consistently walk into the room and remark on the room's energy. Visitors have also remarked on the books and inquired about them.

If the meditation classroom is truly a classroom, doesn't it make sense for the Cybernetics library to stay there and have its presence catalyze the development of a Prime Produce library which houses books that members want to share? From my POV and after a lot of contemplation, yes, I think so.

To copy Chris's format....
Q: Do the Prime Produce members share a collective interest in the Cybernetics Library’s presence in the Co-op, and to allow it to remain and grow through sustained initiatives and programs?
A: I do, yes. I also like the fact that it's a discrete timeframe and I am in supportive of the energy, thought, and interest it brings into the space

A: What expectations do Prime Produce members have of the Library and its staff?
Q: I expect regular programming around it. Right now, we feel like storage. However, I have had interesting conversations about the library and for it to stay, I would like for there to be a clearer, consistent effort to have these conversations.

Q: In what ways can the Library serve as a productive force at Prime Produce and serve as a resource to its members?
A: I think my answer is the same as the one above. It is productive as long as it's in use and being activated by members and with members.

Q: What would an ideal relationship between the Library and Prime Produce be for members of the Guild?
A: I don't really think that there is an ideal because every relationship is special and unique. I would say only that it is activated - I am not a fan of static installations.

Q: What would the proposed time frame be for a potential move of the Library to the third floor?
A: I agree with Michelle's comment about space here - I am worried that it will be a bit thrown away on the third floor. I also do like the energy it brings to the second floor, so I'd be open to exploring the space conversation again.

Q: How would this impact other activities at the Guild?
A: In the best case scenario - more people are interested in the guild and become members! Worst case - more lovely people are in the space that we can all learn from. Both options are great to me.

Q: How could the space be effectively shared between projects?
A: I'm not thrilled with the third floor idea. This is because of Seeds to Soil (and wanting to build out the roof more next summer!) as well as Pre Pro Bono (they need smaller/quieter spaces for their exams). I would need to give this more thought but I would like for us to create more models of sharing space instead of dividing it.

Hi All,
Personally, I do not have used for the cybernetics library. Assuming that the majority of current members are actively using of it, then I agree with keeping the library at Prpr for a discrete time period. 6 months sounds like a reasonable amount of time.

I have two major concerns: 1) Bookshelves: I don't like the way the shelves and the book piled up on makeshift shelvings. Aesthetically and visually the shelves do not look good to me. It doesn't look organized to me and it takes up a lot of space 2) Location: I would prefer for it to store at another space rather than in the meditation/workshop space. Storing it somewhere else, either on the 3rd floor or in the collaboratory or in the hallway would free up the meditation/workshop space.

I am ok with a six month pilot but theere would need to be further norms around the tidyness of the library and where books can be brought and located and placed back. As a nerd myself, books can create a lot of clutter so we need to agree on keeping our place tidy out of respect for everyone who uses the space. I agree with Home that I do not like the aesthetic of the bookshelves but if they are on the third floor I am okay with them.

All in all, I vote yes for six months (Jan - June 2019) and I vote yes for location to be third floor for this period. We should revisit this conversation at the end of six months for a fuller cost and benefit analysis. Thanks!

I agree with Home and Anu with having it on the 3rd floor for the 6 month period and can revaluate in July.

chiming in here: I think the 3rd floor is a good option temporarily, since that's the proposal. 2nd floor is also good by me, if we can alleviate the concerns of members objecting to its presence. Ultimately, I'd like to see the community library activated aesthetically in the meditation/classroom in a way that everyone (especially @anuraggupta and @drhome ) can feel good about.

Agree to move the library to 3rd floor